Albers' to get Jan. teammate
(GMM -- Dec.24) A F1 teammate for Minardi rookie Christijan Albers
will be named early next year, Paul Stoddart said.

The team owner and principal, sitting next to the 25-year-old Dutch
star, revealed at a media conference in Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
that he is not yet decided on Albers' teammate, from a final list of
seven.

Stoddart said in Holland: ''Minardi has ambitious plans (for 2005). It
is very gratifying to see a number of Dutch companies getting behind a
talented young driver in order to help him take that final step to the
highest level of motor racing.''

Ralf could be 2007 champ
(GMM -- Dec.24) Ralf Schumacher will lengthen a new grand prix team
contract and charge toward a maiden drivers' world championship with
Toyota.

The German is signed up for 2005 and 2006 but reckons it'll take at
least 'three to five years' to prepare a title charge.

''(By) then,'' the 29-year-old told website sportal.it, ''I am certain
I will be champion. My objective now is to get on the podium, with the
championship a long term goal.''

Ralf justified the up to five-year interval by referring to
super-successful brother Michael Schumacher's half decade wait for the
first Ferrari title since 1979.

Schumacher added: ''It's going to be necessary to have some patience
-- last year's car was not really very good.''

He revealed that, following an opportunity to snap-up the outspoken
Latino - reportedly following an argument with Williams' chiefs at the
2003 French grand prix - the decision to hire JPM was taken 'quickly.'

Dennis told UK newspaper The Daily Mail: ''We believe he will be a
better racing driver with our team -- we think the risk is a very
balanced and calculated one. We think his best is yet to come.

UK sport minister Richard Caborn opened a seven million dollar
'business innovation centre' at the circuit in Northamptonshire, a
joint venture of the track-owning British Racing Drivers' Club and the
EMDA (East Midlands Development Agency).

''Developing the motorsport industry is about growing sustainable and
quality jobs,'' Caborn said. ''The (British) grand prix is very
important to the local economy.''

The plan is to 'attract and nurture' young racing/engineering
companies by offering (for lease) business space.

Scott Speed, the jewel in Red Bull's search for a US-born F1 star,
said he was likely to test for the energy drink-owned grand prix team
some time in 2005.

''GP2 looks like the biggest possibility,'' the Californian was quoted
as saying when asked about next season, ''and ... I am sure I'll be
testing the Red Bull car. I don't know anything for sure yet.''

Speed, 21, won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2004.

Klien backed for RB role
(GMM -- Dec.24) It would not be 'ideal' if F1 team Red Bull overlooked
Christian Klien as David Coulthard's 2005 teammate.

That's the assertion of UK-based managing director David Pitchforth,
although - as reported yesterday - Red Bull's 'motor sport advisor'
Helmut Marko made it clear the Briton is just an 'employee' and all
decisions will be made in Austria.

Klien, by virtue of his full season for formerly Ford-owned Jaguar
this year, cannot slot into the Friday practice role in 2005.

''You've got to be committed to a young driver,'' Pitchforth said,
''and for Christian to lose the seat and not even do the Friday role
-- it's not what we would like.''

A spokeswoman for the F1 team, meanwhile, told us the balance of the
racing lineup will be 'announced in the New Year.'

We revealed earlier that the official 2005 launch for Paul Stoddart's
F1 team is to take place in Melbourne, just prior to the season
opener.

The January 'launch party,' the Australian entrepreneur explained at a
five-star Amsterdam hotel on Thursday, is to name the flock of Dutch
corporate support for Christijan Albers' graduation to F1.

The event will be held at a 'secret location in Amsterdam,' according
to a statement. Albers' leading investor is Lost Boys founder Michiel
Mol, who said yesterday: ''This is my Christmas present to all Dutch
F1 fans.''

49-year-old Stoddart, meanwhile, said the 2005-spec PS05 car won't
actually be unveiled until April, at least three grands prix into the
new season.

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